New Books in Communications "Assignment Moscow" with author James Rodgers
Aug 20, 2025
James Rodgers, a former BBC correspondent and current program director at City University London, explores the dire state of independent journalism in Russia. He reflects on historical biases in Western media coverage from the Russian Revolution to Stalin's famine denials. The discussion highlights the severe challenges journalists face under Putin, with an emphasis on the courageous work of exiled Russian journalists. Their efforts are essential for delivering genuine insights into contemporary Russia, amid rising repression and media control.
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1917: Telegraphs Controlled The Story
- In 1917 telegraph control let Russian authorities limit external news; foreign outlets often guessed about events.
- Headlines like “no news from Russia” reflected deep informational bottlenecks.
Learn The Language To Gain Real Access
- Learn the language and culture to build trust and access when reporting abroad.
- Use local knowledge to read conversations, media and everyday life that reveal deeper context.
Duranty’s Compromised Reporting
- Walter Duranty downplayed the 1930s Ukrainian famine and admired Soviet power-building under Stalin.
- Duranty's reporting later became infamous for trade-offs with authority that concealed suffering.
